Photo: Supplied
Netball - Mo'onia Gerrard
Former Australian netball rep Mo'onia Gerrad has been named as a new Director on the Netball Australia Board.
Gerrard (above), the first Australian Diamond netball rep with a Pacific background, will take on the position of Athlete Director.
Netball Australia said the new role, established under recommendations from the 2020 State of the Game Review, will contribute to Netball Australia's ongoing stakeholder engagement and advise on overarching strategies for the growth of the game.
Gerrard is linked to Tonga through her mother and was a key partner in the development of the sport in the Kingdom from 2009.
She sponsored netball awareness programs in Tonga and funded her own tournament, called the Mo'onia Cup, which is still part of Tonga Netball's annual calendar today.
Netball - Fiji
The Fiji men's netball team won the local Tri-Series after a four-day unbeaten run.
The tri-series was a training campaign for the Fiji Pearls, with match-ups against the national men's and mixed teams.
Netball Fiji CEO Vivian Coster said the series provided the Pearls squad an opportunity for high quality game time.
Men's team head coach Josaia Tuinamata said one of the main purpose of laying a solid platform for men's netball is to prepare early for the long run.
Rugby League - Cook Islands
Cook Islands Rugby League held an open trial to select its women's nines squad for this year's Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands.
Women playing in local competitions were invited to attend at the National Stadium in Nikao.
Charles Carlson, the President of CIRL, said it was an opportunity for players to make the national squad but warned the trial was "no place for novices".
Cook Islands played at last year's Rugby League World Cup in England in the 13-a-side game, where they were coached by Rusty Matua.
They lost to powerhouses Australia and New Zealand as they exited in the group stage, but beat France 26-18.
The team have already qualified for the 2025 World Cup in France.
Olympics - Tahiti
Earthworks have begun at the French Polynesian venue to be used as part of next year's Paris Summer Olympics.
The marina at Teahupoo on Tahiti is being expanded for the influx of visitors for the Olympic surfing competition.
The French Polynesian government will inject $US15 million to upgrade facilities around the site, including building more parking spaces.
Media reports say locals are divided about the development, with some concerned about the environmental impact while others welcome infrastructure improvements.
